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'Saw IV' Blu-ray to Feature Web-Enabled "MoLog"
Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 04:00 PM ETTags: Lionsgate, Web-Enabled Features (all tags)
Promising to push the limits of next-gen interactivity, Lionsgate says its January Blu-ray release of 'Saw IV' will allow consumers to blog about the flick directly from a web-connected Blu-ray player.
Dubbed "MoLog" (short for Movie Blog), Lionsgate tells us that the new feature will enable consumers to create and share their own added value content via blog entries.
'Saw IV' is the second announced Blu-ray title from Lionsgate to include web-connected features. Last week at the Web 2.0 conference in Los Angeles, it was revealed that the studio plans to include a network-connected game on its Jan 1 release of 'War,' which Lionsgate says will allow fans to play each other online.
At press time, it still wasn't clear whether there would be any Blu-ray players compatible with the new technology at launch. Although studio officials have hinted that an upcoming firmware update for the PS3 will unlock web-enabled features such as these, Sony has yet to confirm these reports, and no manufacturer has provided a timetable for the first true BD-Live hardware.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Lionsgate to bow first BD-Live titles in January [Video Business]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- 'Saw IV' Buzzes to Blu-ray (Nov 26, 2007)
HD DVD Camp: Web-Enabled Features a Hit With Consumers
Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Web-Enabled Features, Industry Trends (all tags)
The HD DVD Promotions Group is reporting significant online usage of its exclusive web-connected features on such top titles as 'Transformers' and 'Heroes: Season One.'
In a new press release issued Tuesday, the group said more than 80,000 unique users had accessed the web-enabled features on DreamWorks' HD DVD release of 'Transformers,' with 31% returning as additional content became available.
Fot its part, Universal reported an average of 30% of HD DVD purchasers going online to download content and connect with other fans on its web-enabled HD DVD releases, including 'Heroes: Season One,' 'Knocked Up,' and 'Evan Almighty.'
"We've only scratched the surface in offering web-connected experiences to fans of hit movies and TV shows, so it was great to see so many connecting online for these titles," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group. "As more titles from the HD DVD studios include access to downloads, trailers and community pages, the owner of any HD DVD player can take advantage of these web-connected experiences."
As we've previously reported, the HD DVD camp has been particularly aggressive in rolling out web-enabled features over the last several months.
Pointing out that Blu-ray players "don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this," Universal first announced plans to begin including web-enabled features in all of its non-catalog HD DVD titles this past summer. Since then, the two other major studios currently supporting HD DVD (Paramount/DreamWorks and Warner) have jumped in the web-based extras game as well, releasing several high profile titles with net-connected supplements.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Web Communities Flourish With New HD DVD Titles [Press Release]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles (Jul 19, 2007)
HD DVD Camp: Web-Enabled Features a Hit With Consumers
Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Web-Enabled Features, Industry Trends (all tags)
The HD DVD Promotions Group is reporting significant online usage of its exclusive web-connected features on such top titles as 'Transformers' and 'Heroes: Season One.'
In a new press release issued Tuesday, the group said more than 80,000 unique users had accessed the web-enabled features on DreamWorks' HD DVD release of 'Transformers,' with 31% returning as additional content became available.
Fot its part, Universal reported an average of 30% of HD DVD purchasers going online to download content and connect with other fans on its web-enabled HD DVD releases, including 'Heroes: Season One,' 'Knocked Up,' and 'Evan Almighty.'
"We've only scratched the surface in offering web-connected experiences to fans of hit movies and TV shows, so it was great to see so many connecting online for these titles," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of HD strategic marketing for Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and co-president of the HD DVD Promotional Group. "As more titles from the HD DVD studios include access to downloads, trailers and community pages, the owner of any HD DVD player can take advantage of these web-connected experiences."
As we've previously reported, the HD DVD camp has been particularly aggressive in rolling out web-enabled features over the last several months.
Pointing out that Blu-ray players "don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this," Universal first announced plans to begin including web-enabled features in all of its non-catalog HD DVD titles this past summer. Since then, the two other major studios currently supporting HD DVD (Paramount/DreamWorks and Warner) have jumped in the web-based extras game as well, releasing several high profile titles with net-connected supplements.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Web Communities Flourish With New HD DVD Titles [Press Release]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles (Jul 19, 2007)
Universal Demos "U-Shop" Functionality on 'Evan Almighty' HD DVD
Wed Oct 03, 2007 at 04:06 PM ETTags: Web-Enabled Features, Universal, Industry Trends (all tags)
Universal Studio gave reporters a sneak peak at their latest web-enabled innovation on Tuesday.
Called "U-Shop," the upcoming 'Evan Almighty' HD DVD will be the first next-gen title to allow complete online transactions via a customized web browser. (As previously reported, Warner's earlier '300' HD DVD included the ability to send a text message to cellphones with links to purchase ringtones and wallpaper.)
Tying into the environmental theme of 'Evan Almighty,' items for sale via the disc will include a solar radio, a spinning composter, toilet paper made from recycled materials. More traditional film memorabilia (including an 'Evan Almighty' t-shirt) will also be made available.
Universal says it's not viewing the functionality as a new revenue stream, but rather as a demonstration of the format's interactive capabilities.
According to Universal VP (and HD DVD Promo Group Chair) Ken Graffeo, web-enabled features have already proven popular with consumers. Graffeo says that 40% of those who bought the 'Heroes: Season One' HD DVD registered to access the title’s Web offerings.
As we've previously reported, Universal recently launched a companion website for its web-enabled offerings. The studio says consumers will be able to create U-Shop accounts via a normal internet connection, but final product purchases must be made from the HD DVD.
'Evan Almighty' is due to hit HD DVD next Tuesday, October 9th. In addition to the "U-Shop" functionality, the title is also set to include a series of more traditional extras from the standard-def DVD, plus an HD DVD-exclusive picture-in-picture video commentary and two trivia tracks.
(Thanks to Diablo for the tip!)
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Universal Studios Home Entertainment Hi Def [Official Site]
- Universal builds bridge to Web shop on Evan Almighty [Video Business]
- Universal Studios Home Entertainment Unveils Platform to Take HD DVD Web-Enabled Experiences to the Next Level [Press Release]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Evan Almighty (HD DVD)
- Heroes: Season One (HD DVD)
- 300 (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Universal Launches New HD DVD Website
- Universal Brings 'Evan Almighty' to HD DVD this October
- '300' HD DVD to Include First Web-Enabled Transaction Opportunities
'300' HD DVD to Include First Web-Enabled Transaction Opportunities
Mon Jul 23, 2007 at 10:58 AM ETTags: Web-Enabled Features, Industry Trends (all tags)
In another high-def first, Warner says it plans to utilize web-enabled features on its upcoming HD DVD edition of '300' to sell film-themed ringtones and cellphone wallpaper to the movie's next-gen fans.
As we've previously reported, Warner plans to release two separate-but-unequal next-gen editions of '300' on July 31st. While both the Blu-ray and the HD DVD editions will feature a wealth of supplements, the HD DVD will boast several exclusive interactive and web-enabled features, including the ability to re-edit and share versions of the film via a studio-hosted server.
Now comes word that another web-enabled feature on the '300' HD DVD will enable Warner to sell film-related merchandise via a disc for the first time.
The studio demo'd the new feature last week at the Home Media Expo in Las Vegas as part of a larger session focused on the studio's push into interactive features on high-def disc.
According to an account by Video Business, consumers will be able to use their HD DVD player remote to type in their cell phone number, which will then be sent instructions for how to access '300'-themed wallpaper and ringtones for $1.99 each.
Considering the fact that the purchase takes place on the phone (and not the disc itself), this one seems like a bit of a cheat to us, but it does represent another step forward for web-enabled interactivity via high-def disc.
The HD DVD camp appears to angling to make web-enabled features the next battlefront in the high-def format wars. Pointing out that Blu-ray players "don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this," Universal Studios VP Ken Graffeo announced plans late last week to begin including web-enabled features in all Universal HD DVD releases, beginning in late August with 'Heroes: Season One'.
We've set up dedicated threads for '300' in our Forums area -- click the following links to discuss the '300' HD DVD release or the '300' Blu-ray release .
- Related links:
- New high-def Haunted Hill offers new interactivity [Video Business]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- 300 (HD DVD)
- 300 (Blu-ray)
- Heroes: Season One (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles (Jul 19, 2007)
Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Thu Jul 19, 2007 at 12:30 PM ETTags: Universal, Industry Trends, Web-Enabled Features (all tags)
Committing to target "the MySpace generation," Universal VP Ken Graffeo announced Wednesday that the studio plans to include web-enabled features in all of its new releases on HD DVD, starting with 'Heroes: Season One' on August 28.
The move appears to be intended to emphasize a technical advantage of HD DVD over rival format Blu-ray, which has yet to roll out any discs with features that utilize internet connectivity.
Pointing out that Blu-ray players "don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this," Graffeo's remarks came as attendees at the Home Media Expo got the very first peek at scenes and features from the highly anticipated 'Heroes' HD DVD release.
Although execs at the show remained tight-lipped about exactly what type of web-connected features the 'Heroes' HD DVD will include, Universal's Graffeo likened them to those of the massive social network MySpace. "We are developing that same community," explained Graffeo. "With 'Heroes,' producer Tim Kring is very involved in letting HD DVD users exclusively participate in the Heroes community."
Expect more complete details about the 'Heroes' HD DVD release later this month from Comic-Con, where NBC-Universal is planning a session with the show's cast and crew.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Uni promises all HD DVD titles will connect [Video Business]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Heroes: Season One (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- 'Heroes' HD DVD Previewed at Home Media Expo (Jul 19, 2007)
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